President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500
January 30, 2025
Dear Mr. President:
We thank you for previously recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to help bring attention to the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States.1
1 We ask that you once again show your support by recognizing March 2025 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and by lighting the White House blue, the official color of colorectal cancer, to honor those we have lost and those fighting this disease.
This time of year, the colorectal cancer community begins to prepare for the month of March, a time when we come together to shed light on the devastating impact of this disease. March was officially designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by the House, Senate and White House in 1999 after extensive advocacy by the colorectal cancer community. It is an opportunity for advocates to share their experiences, for physicians to speak to their patients about colorectal cancer, and for the colorectal cancer community to come together and raise awareness.
Colorectal cancer is often thought of as a disease that only affects older people, but the face of colorectal cancer is changing. Over the last four decades, colorectal cancer has been steadily increasing in young people, and as of 2024 it became the leading cause of cancer death for men under the age of 50.2 By 2030, it is on track to become the number one cancer killer of all people under age 50.3 Additionally, younger patients are often diagnosed at a later stage with the disease is more difficult to treat. We don’t know why we are seeing increased diagnoses in this population, so it is critical that we help raise awareness about this worrying trend.
Colorectal cancer does not affect all Americans equally. Rural Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer than those in urban areas.4 According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer incidence is highest among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals followed by non-Hispanic black individuals.5 Furthermore, colorectal cancer is expected to account for 12% of cancer deaths among Hispanic men and 9% of cancer deaths for Hispanic women.6 This doesn’t have to be our reality. Link to full letter including list of supporting organizations…Click here.